Medical examiner rules jail death of convicted killer James Henry Long Jr. a suicide by drug overdose

BY ROBIN KNEPPER

Date published: 9/20/2008

BY ROBIN KNEPPER

The death of convicted murderer James Henry Long Jr. while he was a prisoner in the Central Virginia Regional Jail in Orange County has been ruled a suicide.

Assistant Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Frances Field reported that Long's death in his cell on June 29 was caused by combined drug poisoning. According to her report, the drug levels found in his blood and liver were "consistent with intentional overdose."

Long was receiving prescribed medications for chronic pain, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and depression, officials said. An exam showed twice the therapeutic levels of two antidepressants, one muscle relaxant and one non-narcotic pain reliever in his blood.

No alcohol or opiates were found, and other prescribed drugs found were within therapeutic limits, Field reported.

"We believe he'd been hoarding drugs," said Orange County Commonwealth's Attorney Diana Wheeler.

Long's death preceded his transfer to a state correctional facility, where he would have served the two life sentences he received for the March 2005 shooting deaths of William Browning and Vicki Truax. Browning was the ex-husband of Long's live-in girlfriend.

Long was convicted twice in Orange County Circuit Court of the murders. The 2006 jury verdict was thrown out by Judge Daniel R. Bouton in 2007 after he found Wheeler had made a plea agreement with her key prosecution witness and had not revealed that deal to the defense.

A special prosecutor was requested by both Wheeler and defense attorney Michael Morchower, and Long was convicted again earlier this year. In May, Bouton sentenced Long to two life terms, the punishment recommended by the jury.

Robin Knepper: 540/972-5701
Email: rknepper@earthlink.net

Read more stories about Orange
Date published: 9/20/2008